2018-2025

PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE

A Strategic Vision for Missouri Western State University

OVERARCHING GOAL: STUDENT SUCCESS

Advancing student success requires a comprehensive, integrated approach engaging everyone at Missouri Western. We have identified the following broad themes to guide our efforts.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Eliminate barriers to student access and student success.

PEOPLE

Every employee plays a vital part in the student experience.

PARTNERSHIPS

Community, regional and state partnerships are vital for success.

PROGRAMS

Quality programs are the hallmark of great institutions.

STEWARDSHIP

We cannot achieve our goals without a sound foundation of support and excellent stewardship of our resources.

STUDENT SUCCESS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY EMPLOYEE, AND EACH OF US PLAYS A VITAL PART IN THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.

Student Experience

A central element for student success at Missouri Western is a supportive, positive, and thriving community. We are committed to providing high quality services in the areas of academics, co-curricular experiences, and community experiences that elevate and enhance student learning.

It is also imperative that we find ways to keep the college experience affordable, despite rising costs and reduced state funding. Without this, college will be out of reach for students who would benefit the most.

Finally, we must eliminate the barriers that inhibit student access and student success. This includes revising processes where appropriate, eliminating redundancies, and using digital workflows to streamline tasks.

Objective: Missouri Western will provide a learning experience that is affordable, engaging, and barrier free.

Key Strategies

Employ real-time data analytics to support student success
Increase affordability by creating additional need-based scholarships, a comprehensive campus student employment program, and reducing out-of-pocket costs
Increase engagement by implementing a co-curricular record/transcript and systematically using surveys to obtain student feedback and input

People

Student success is the responsibility of every employee and each of us plays a vital part in the student experience. Therefore, we affirm that every employee at Missouri Western is an educator, no matter his/her official capacity on campus.

It is our goal to provide every educator with the tools necessary to succeed in their work, thereby contributing to overall well-being and fostering a vibrant campus culture. Doing so will ensure that students succeed and are prepared for life.

Objective: Missouri Western will create a culture that demonstrates our values and affirms the role of every employee as an educator.

Key Strategies

Expand the on-boarding process for employees
Advance professional development opportunities
Develop a process for tracking employee job satisfaction
Pursue best practices to recruit and retain a diverse workforce

Partnerships

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” -African Proverb

Since our founding as the St. Joseph Junior College in 1915, Missouri Western has relied upon community, regional and state partnerships for success. The institution was created through a partnership between community leaders from the St. Joseph School District and the Commerce Club (the predecessor to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce) and became a four-year institution through the collaborative efforts of the regional communities and the State of Missouri.

Continued success for our institution cannot be achieved alone; we must support the communities who support us by providing education, services, and resources to enhance the region and state. It is our goal to be the “partner of choice” for business, not-for-profits, entrepreneurs, community members and governmental entities by being accessible, responsive, accountable and user-friendly for all.

Objective: Missouri Western will expand partnerships that meet regional needs and enhance learning opportunities across campus.

Key Strategies

Centralize responsibilities for partnerships and external relations, and charge with:
1. Creating a “one-stop shop” with streamlined and user-friendly service for community and campus partners
2. Retaining and servicing current university partnerships
3. Cultivating new partnerships for the benefit of the community and campus constituencies
Create and implement an assessment process for partnerships to better evaluate time and resource allocation.
Create and implement a comprehensive communications plan to promote University partnerships and opportunities available.

Programs

“Education is the best provision for life’s journey” -Aristotle

Quality programs are the hallmark of great institutions. Students seek out these programs, knowing that the rigor and reputation of their selected studies will pay dividends – including outstanding career opportunities, placement in graduate education, and preparation for the future. Missouri Western is fortunate to have a host of strong programs and excellent faculty who are dedicated to student learning.

Of course, past success does not guarantee the future. Meeting tomorrow’s needs for our society will require innovation, agile thinking, and creativity. Essentially, we must model lifelong learning as we prepare students for the jobs of today and the careers of the future. This idea is particularly well suited for our statewide mission of applied learning, and this focus sets our institution apart from our peers. Missouri Western is committed to the idea of continuous improvement so we can lead the way as the premier open access regional university.

Objective: Missouri Western will provide quality programs that are future-focused, meet workforce needs, and prepare students for success.

Key Strategies

Create a Center for Teaching and Learning for faculty and staff development, grant writing, and technology support
Expand opportunities for applied learning
Create master academic plan

Stewardship

Missouri Western has benefited greatly from the significant investments made by the citizens of this region and the State of Missouri. Thus, we have a fiduciary responsibility to protect those investments and manage wisely. Furthermore, the continued volatility of our financial circumstances require creative solutions that provide financial stability. Doing so is essential for Missouri Western to serve our students, our region, and our state most effectively.

Objective: Missouri Western will be an excellent steward of our resources and achieve long-term financial stability.

Key Strategies

Create a strategic enrollment management plan
Create a strategic technology plan
Advance the goals of the facilities master plan and make infrastructure investments that increase efficient use of existing facilities and serve the
institution’s mission and vision
Implement proven processes to increase organizational efficiencies, such as lean principles
Create and implement a long-range fiscal plan that increases revenue and proactively prepares the institution for financial challenges that arise

Mission Statement

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning.

Vision Statement

Missouri Western will be the premier open access regional university, known for transforming the lives of our students and the communities we serve.

Our Culture

To achieve our vision for student success, we embody a culture that demonstrates our values of service, quality, enthusiasm, freedom, respect and courage.

WE ACHIEVE THIS CULTURE BY FOSTERING:

Creativity and collaboration

Evidence-based decision making

Agile innovation

Accountability

Diversity and inclusion

E3: Every Employee is an Educator

Every Student Matters